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FROM THIS EPISODE

In Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, repressive dictators have been overthrown by the efforts of many women, as well as men. But conservative forms of Islam are still deeply influential in all those countries, and continuing struggles may be needed to maintain — much less increase — women's rights. Also, jobs numbers make the road to re-election steeper, and three national heroes aren't "cricket" any more in Pakistan.

Banner image: A Libyan Muslim woman holds a pistol while shouting slogans against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi after a mass Friday noon prayer at Revolution Square in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on May 20, 2011. Photo by Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

The Labor Department said today the economy added just 80,000 jobs in October, and unemployment is stuck at nine percent. That's more bad news for a president with only a year left until he stands for reelection. But, as the G-20 Summit came to an end, President Obama gave it a positive spin. Richard Stevenson is political editor for the New York Times.

Arab women have been a big factor in the Arab spring, as one Egyptian put it to the Economist magazine, "throwing stones, moving dead bodies." But, even where repressive regimes have been overthrown, the outcome may not be an increase in women's rights, partly because of the rising influence of conservative Islam. In Tunisia, it's not a matter of winning new rights but maintaining old ones. In Egypt, women in politics are associated with the hated Mubarak regime. In Libya, one victorious rebel leader promises to reinstate polygamy. We look at different prospects in different countries in a region of remarkable diversity.

If Shaquille O'Neal went to jail for fixing a basketball game, it would make headlines in the US. In Pakistan, the conviction of three star players for cheating at cricket has created a sense of national shame. Although the details of cricket will have to remain unexplained, suffice it to say that when three Pakistani heroes were convicted of conspiracy to cheat and accept corrupt payments, former colleagues said they "deserved no mercy" for "shaming Pakistan cricket." Today, they and an agent were sentenced to terms ranging from 18 months to four years by a court in London. Pritha Sarkar is sports correspondent for Reuters.